jrt.the hobbit-第50节

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　is　no　sleep　in　me　tonight。〃
　〃You　are　a　good　fellow；　Mr。　Baggins；　and　I　will　take　your　offer　kindly。　　If　there　should　be　anything　to　note；　rouse　me　first；　mind　you！　I　will　lie　in　the　inner　chamber　to　the　left；　not　far　away。〃
　〃Off　you　go！〃　said　Bilbo。　〃I　will　wake　you　at　midnight；　and　you　can　wake　the　next　watchman。〃　As　soon　as　Bombur　had　gone；　Bilbo　put　on　his　ring；　fastened　his　rope；　slipped　down　over　the　wall；　and　was　gone。　He　had　about　five　hours　before　him。　Bombur　would　sleep　（he　could　sleep　at　any　time；　and　ever　since　the　adventure　in　the　forest　he　was　always　trying　to　recapture　the　beautiful　dreams　he　had　then）；　and　all　the　others　were　busy　with　Thorin。　It　was　unlikely　that　any；　even　Fili　or　Kili；　would　e　out　on　the　wall　until　it　was　their　turn。　It　was　very　dark；　and　the　road　after　a　while；　when　he　left　the　newly　made　path　and　climbed　down　towards　the　lower　course　of　the　stream；　was　strange　to　him。　At　last　he　came　to　the　bend　where　he　had　to　cross　the　water；　if　he　was　to　make　for　the　camp；　as　he　wished。　The　bed　of　the　stream　was　there　shallow　but　already　broad；　and　fording　it　in　the　dark　was　not　easy　for　the　little　hobbit。　He　was　nearly　across　when　he　missed　his　footing　on　a　round　stone　and　fell　into　the　cold　water　with　a　splash。　He　had　barely　scrambled　out　on　the　far　bank；　shivering　and　spluttering；　when　up　came　elves　in　the　gloom　with　bright　lanterns　and　searched　for　the　cause　of　the　noise。　　〃That　was　no　fish！〃　one　said。　〃There　is　a　spy　about。　Hide　your　lights！　　They　will　help　him　more　than　us；　if　it　is　that　queer　little　creature　that　is　said　to　be　their　servant。〃
　〃Servant；　indeed！〃　snorted　Bilbo；　and　in　the　middle　of　his　snort　he　sneezed　loudly；　and　the　elves　immediately　gathered　towards　the　sound。　　〃Let's　have　a　light！〃　he　said。　〃I　am　here；　if　you　want　me！〃　and　he　slipped　off　his　ring；　and　popped　from　behind　a　rock。
　They　seized　him　quickly；　in　spite　of　their　surprise。　〃Who　are　you？　Are　you　the　dwarves'　hobbit？　What　are　you　doing？　How　did　you　get　so　far　past　our　sentinels？〃　they　asked　one　after　another。
　〃I　am　Mr。　Bilbo　Baggins；〃　he　answered；　〃panion　of　Thorin；　if　you　want　to　know。　I　know　your　king　well　by　sight；　though　perhaps　he　doesn't　know　me　to　look　at。　But　Bard　will　remember　me；　and　it　is　Bard　I　particularly　want　to　see。〃
　〃Indeed！〃　said　they；　〃and　what　may　be　your　business？〃　〃Whatever　it　is；　it's　my　own；　my　good　elves。　But　if　you　wish　ever　to　get　back　to　your　own　woods　from　this　cold　cheerless　place；〃　he　answered　shivering；　〃you　will　take　me　along　quiet　to　a　fire；　where　I　can　dry…and　then　you　will　let　me　speak　to　your　chiefs　as　quick　as　may　be。　I　have　only　an　hour　or　two　to　spare。〃
　That　is　how　it　came　about　that　some　two　hours　after　his　escape　from　the　Gate；　Bilbo　was　sitting　beside　a　warm　fire　in　front　of　a　large　tent；　and　there　sat　too；　gazing　curiously　at　him；　both　the　Elvenking　and　Bard。　A　hobbit　in　elvish　armour；　partly　wrapped　in　an　old　blanket；　was　something　new　to　them。　　〃Really　you　know；〃　Bilbo　was　saying　in　his　best　business　manner；　〃things　are　impossible。　Personally　I　am　tired　of　the　whole　affair。　I　wish　I　was　back　in　the　West　in　my　own　home；　where　folk　are　more　reasonable。　But　I　have　an　interest　in　this　matter…one　fourteenth　share；　to　be　precise；　according　to　a　letter；　which　fortunately　I　believe　I　have　kept。〃　He　drew　from　a　pocket　in　his　old　jacket　（which　he　still　wore　over　his　mail）；　crumpled　and　much　folded；　Thorin's　letter　that　had　been　put　under　the　clock　on　his　mantelpiece　in　May！　　〃A　share　in　the　profits；　mind　you；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　am　aware　of　that。　　Personally　I　am　only　too　ready　to　consider　all　your　claims　carefully；　and　deduct　what　is　right　from　the　total　before　putting　in　my　own　claim。　However　you　don't　know　Thorin　Oakenshield　as　well　as　I　do　now。　I　assure　you；　he　is　quite　ready　to　sit　on　a　heap　of　gold　and　starve；　as　long　as　you　sit　here。〃　〃Well；　let　him！〃　said　Bard。　〃Such　a　fool　deserves　to　starve。〃　〃Quite　so；〃　said　Bilbo。　〃I　see　your　point　of　view。　At　the　same　time　winter　is　ing　on　fast。　Before　long　you　will　be　having　snow　and　what　not；　and　supplies　will　be　difficult　…　even　for　elves　I　imagine。　Also　there　will　be　other　difficulties。　You　have　not　heard　of　Dain　and　the　dwarves　of　the　Iron　Hills？〃
　〃We　have；　a　long　time　ago；　but　what　has　he　got　to　do　with　us？〃　asked　the　king。
　〃I　thought　as　much。　I　see　I　have　some　information　you　have　not　got。　Dain；　I　may　tell　you；　is　now　less　than　two　days'　march　off；　and　has　at　least　five　hundred　grim　dwarves　with　him　…　a　good　many　of　them　have　had　experience　in　the　dreadful　dwarf　and　goblin　wars；　of　which　you　have　no　doubt　heard。　When　they　arrive　there　may　be　serious　trouble。〃
　〃Why　do　you　tell　us　this？　Are　you　betraying　your　friends；　or　are　you　threatening　us？〃　asked　Bard　grimly。
　〃My　dear　Bard！〃　squeaked　Bilbo。　〃Don't　be　so　hasty！　I　never　met　such　suspicious　folk！　I　am　merely　trying　to　avoid　trouble　for　all　concerned。　Now　I　will　make　you　an　offer！！〃
　〃Let　us　hear　it！〃　they　said。
　〃You　may　see　it！〃　said　he。　〃It　is　this！〃　and　he　drew　forth　the　Arkenstone；　and　threw　away　the　wrapping。
　The　Elvenking　himself；　whose　eyes　were　used　to　things　of　wonder　and　beauty；　stood　up　in　amazement。　Even　Bard　gazed　marvelling　at　it　in　silence。　It　was　as　if　a　globe　had　been　filled　with　moonlight　and　hung　before　them　in　a　net　woven　of　the　glint　of　frosty　stars。
　〃This　is　the　Arkenstone　of　Thrain；〃　said　Bilbo；　〃the　Heart　of　the　Mountain；　and　it　is　also　the　heart　of　Thorin。　He　values　it　above　a　river　of　gold。　I　give　it　to　you。　It　will　aid　you　in　your　bargaining。〃　Then　Bilbo；　not　without　a　shudder；　not　without　a　glance　of　longing；　handed　the　marvellous　stone　to　Bard；　and　he　held　it　in　his　hand；　as　though　dazed。　　〃But　how　is　it　yours　to　give？〃　he　asked　at　last　with　an　effort。　　〃O　well！〃　said　the　hobbit　unfortably。　〃It　isn't　exactly；　but；　well；　I　am　willing　to　let　it　stand　against　all　my　claim；　don't　you　know。　I　may　be　a　burglar…or　so　they　say：　personally　I　never　really　felt　like　one…but　I　am　an　honest　one；　I　hope；　more　or　less。　Anyway　I　am　going　back　now；　and　the　dwarves　can　do　what　they　like　to　me。　I　hope　you　will　find　it　useful。〃　The　Elvenking　looked　at　Bilbo　with　a　new　wonder。
　〃Bilbo　Baggins！〃　he　said。　〃You　are　more　worthy　to　wear　the　armour　of　elf…princes　than　many　that　have　looked　more　ely　in　it。　But　I　wonder　if　Thorin　Oakenshield　will　see　it　so。　I　have　more　knowledge　of　dwarves　in　general　than　you　have　perhaps。　I　advise　you　to　remain　with　us；　and　here　you　shall　be　honoured　and　thrice　wele。〃
　〃Thank　you　very　much　I　am　sure；〃　said　Bilbo　with　a　bow。　〃But　I　don't　think　I　ought　to　leave　my　friends　like　this；　after　all　we　have　gone　through　together。　And　I　promised　to　wake　old　Bombur　at　midnight；　too！　Really　I　must　be　going；　and　quickly。〃
　Nothing　they　could　say　would　stop　him；　so　an　escort　was　provided　for　him；　and　as　he　went　both　the　king　and　Bard　saluted　him　with　honour。　As　they　passed　through　the　camp　an　old　man　wrapped　in　a　dark　cloak；　rose　from　a　tent　door　where　he　was　sitting　and　came　towards　them。
　〃Well　done！　Mr。　Baggins！〃　he　said；　clapping　Bilbo　on　the　back。　〃There　is　always　more　about　you　than　anyone　expects！〃　It　was　Gandalf。　　For　the　first　time　for　many　a　day　Bilbo　was　really　delighted。　But　there　was　no　time　for　all　the　questions　that　he　immediately　wished　to　ask。　　〃All　in　good　time！〃　said　Gandalf。　〃Things　are　drawing　towards　the　end　now；　unless　I　am　mistaken。　There　is　an　unpleasant　time　just　in　front　of　you；　but　keep　your　heart　up！　You　may　e　through　all　right。　There　is　news　brewing　that　even　the　ravens　have　not　heard。　Good　night！〃
　Puzzled　but　cheered。　Bilbo　hurried　on。　He　was　guided　to　a　safe　ford　and　set　across　dry；　and　then　he　said　farewell　to　the　elves　and　climbed　carefully　back　towards　the　Gate。　Great　weariness　began　to　e　over　him；　but　it　was　well　before　midnight　when　he　clambered　up　the　rope　again　…　it　was　still　where　he　had　left　it。　He　untied　it　and　hid　it；　and　then　he　sat　down　on　the　wall　and　wondered　anxiously　what　would　happen　next。
　At　midnight　he　woke　up　Bombur；　and　then　in　turn　rolled　himself　up　in　his　corner；　without　listening　to　old　dwarfs　thanks　（which　he　felt　he　had　hardly　earned）。　He　was　soon　fast　asleep　forgetting　all　his　worries　till　the　morning。　　As　matter　of　fact　he　was　dreaming　of　eggs　and　bacon。
　
　Chapter　17
　The　Clouds　Burst
　
　Next　day　the　trumpets　rang　early　in　the　camp。　Soon　a　single　runner　was　seen　hurrying　along　the　narrow　path。　At　a　distance　he　stood　and　hailed　them；　asking　whether　Thorin　would　now　listen　to　another　embassy；　since　new　tidings　had　e　to　hand；　and　matters　were　changed。
　〃That　will　be　Dain！〃　said　Thorin　when　he　heard。　〃They　will　have　got　wind　　of　his　ing。　I　thought　that　would　alter　their　mood！　Bid　them　e　few　in　number　and　weaponless；　and　I　will　hear；〃　he　called　to　the　messenger。　　About　midday　the　banners　of　the　Forest　and　the　Lake　were　seen　to　be　borne　forth　again。　A　pany　of　twenty　was　approaching。　At　the　beginning　of　the　narrow　way　they　laid　aside　sword　and　spear；　and　came　on　towards　the　Gate。　　Wondering；　the　dwarves　saw　that　among　them　were　both　Bard　and　the　Elvenking；　before　whom　an　old　man　wrapped　in　cloak　and　hood　bore　a　strong　casket　of　iron…bound　wood。
　〃Hail　Thorin！〃　said　Bard。　〃Are　you　still　of　the　same　mind？〃　〃My　mind　does　not　change　with　the　rising　and　setting